Preview: Mumbai vs Bangalore, semi-final 1

The thing about having a league and knock-out format in a competition like the IPL is that it could potentially penalize teams that have played consistently well but end up having an off-day. However, on the flip side is the fact that if a team truly wants to be considered the best in the competition, it must not only be able to play consistently well, but also raise its game at critical moments - and it doesn't get more critical than a semi-final.

Bangalore and Mumbai have played each other twice in the tournament, winning one match each, but apart from that there hasn't been too much equality in the two sides' performances.

Mumbai have looked solid throughout, and out of 13 games played at or near full-strength they won 10. Their final match against Kolkata was lost, but Mumbai rested a huge amount of key players for that. Bangalore have had a stop-start second half of the tournament, and only their good net run-rate took them through to the semi-finals ahead of Delhi and Kolkata who were level on points with them. However, Bangalore have immense pedigree, and no one can deny the quality they bring to the table in terms of players. Mumbai have had the quality and superlative performances, which gives them the advantage going into the match. But once the match starts, both teams will be on an even footing, each knowing that this is almost a fresh chapter in the tournament and that for all practical purposes the league phase can be discounted, and the semi-finals and finals treated like almost a separate tournament.

How do both teams stack up?

Strengths: Mumbai's strength is their all-round depth, which when allied to the genius of Sachin Tendulkar has produced winning results more often than not. They bat deep, and have a varied and potent bowling attack.

Bangalore's strength is their batting line-up, with every batsman till Number 7, capable of playing a game-changing role. Bangalore also have a couple of top-notch bowlers in Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn.

Weaknesses: Although Mumbai have worked hard to overcome it, there is still a palpable fragility to the side when Sachin Tendulkar fails. There have been matches where Mumbai have won in spite of his failures, but in each of the matches they have lost, Tendulkar was either absent/hurt, or did not get a big score.

Bangalore's opening problems are their main weakness. In the past few matches, Kallis and Pandey have been too slow to get off the blocks, which has put unnecessary pressure on the rest of the batting order, which has also consequently not performed to potential.

Opportunities: Mumbai have the bowlers to stifle Bangalore's opening pair in Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh. If they can do that, then they can control the middle of the innings and force the Bangalore batsmen to take undue risks if they want to get to a competitive total (or chase one). While batting, Mumbai just need Tendulkar to get off to a flyer. If all goes according to plan, Mumbai will want Pollard to take strike around the 15th over.

Bangalore need to form a specific plan to get Sachin Tendulkar early, preferably by unleashing Steyn. If that happens, they must then bowl accurately and to plan to tie down the rest of the batsmen. While batting, Bangalore must look to attack Mumbai's fourth and fifth bowlers, and possibly tinker with the batting order. It might not be a bad idea to send Ross Taylor to open with Jacques Kallis.

Threats: If Mumbai lose Tendulkar cheaply, and Bangalore stick to a good bowling line, the younger batsmen might play unnessary shots in the heat of the moment. Their first instinct will be to attack their way out of trouble, but they face the threat of self-destructing if they attack without thought.

Bangalore's bowling could come under severe assault from Mumbai's big-hitters, and with the bowling being relatively more inexperienced than the batting, the bowlers will need to keep their wits about them if, for example, a Tiwary or a Pollard starts middling the ball.

The question of who the four foreigners will be for each team is also an interesting one, and both teams have no clear-cut answers.

Mumbai will have Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga for sure, but then they face the dilemma of picking two out of JP Duminy, Ryan McLaren and Dwayne Bravo. None of the three have really shone, but all three can bat and bowl. If the pitch looks like it could aid spin, then Duminy is likely to get in, while it will be a toss up between McLaren and Bravo. However, if the pitch looks like it would favour the faster men, then Duminy might sit out, while the other two get in.

Bangalore have three spots cemented with Pietersen, Kallis and Steyn being undroppable, and the fourth is likely to go to Ross Taylor. However, with a bench of Cameron White, Eoin Morgan and Mark Boucher, Taylor's spot is not sealed.

So far, the IPL has been generating more off-field headlines than on-field ones, but with the semi-finals finally here, this is the perfect match to bring the focus back to cricket. And there couldn't be two finer men than Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble to ensure that the cricket is of the highest quality.